Running Lessons

Though I wanted to run a marathon every eight weeks, I didn't find anything close to home for a March race. NV has one (Red Rock Canyon) but I am afraid is a real "canyon". Eight weeks is not enough time to get those hills on me. I accommodated the schedule and planned one in 18 weeks, on May 29th: Coeur D'Alene, ID. This place is pretty much in my backyard and will be about a 5-hour drive. Hubby will go with me, taking his boat to go fishing in his territory.

This week I wanted to have a good recovery from AZ and planned to run very little though I wasn't sore, and/or didn't have any pain. My extremely fast recovery is certainly a gift, but I still respect the distance and the muscle damage that I don't see or feel, but I know it comes included with a 26.2 doses. I ran 3 very easy miles on Tue, and ran a 10-mile race today (resolution run series in Ft. Steilacoom). Daughter joined me to run the other distance in the series, a 10K. I planned my 10-miles as an LSD, but started faster than 10K pace. The field that runs these races is very fast, and it was hard to avoid going bananas at the beginning of the race. Of course I paid the price. On a nice 39F, partly sunny day, I was spent at mile 5. The second half was a miracle. I still got an avg LSD pace, but that was not the way to achieve it. For me, an even pace is the way. This happens very seldom to me, but heck, every day teaches us a lesson and I treasure every one of them, especially if they are Running Lessons. 

Too Emotional

Marathon Plan - Regressive Countdown - Week Ten
08/30/10 - 09/05/10 - Week Total: 29 miles

Got from work on Monday to find out that my college mate Victor Ferreira had tragically died. His death was shocking to all. The following day, Tuesday, we would celebrate Luis' birthday making it now a more emotional week. I laced my shoes with sorrow and went for a long run, a 14-miler. At mile 5.7 I decided to quit. My legs could not go any longer, and I felt physically and emotionally shattered. Started to go back home when, after walking a bit, I chose to continue. Dragging my feet but moving forward. 

It was a very tough run with those life's questions coming and going. Victor had changed his Facebook profile picture just one week before he passed. A beautiful picture of the Caribbean sea at sunset. A lonely sailboat in the body of water, now looking lonesome. The horizon at the distance. How come Victor is not here any more? How come Luis is not here anymore? How come these tragedies happened?

It was hard to cope with the events. Though it took me forever I finished my 14-miler. 

On Tuesday I went with my son and daughter in law to dinner to commemorate Luis' birthday and to have in his memory his favorite dessert: flan. We started last year this tradition of eating flan on his birthday and has become a wonderful experience.

The rest of the week went by with the scheduled intervals on Wednesday and a 10-miler race on Saturday. The race, Over the Narrows, was a perfectly organized race in Gig Harbor, though tough, very hilly and very windy. While crossing the beautiful Tacoma Narrows bridge I was pushed by a south to north wind towards the concrete barrier that separates the walk path from the bridge. Almost hit the barrier as there was nobody to draft. I ran the race by heart rate instead of pace. Avg HR was 172.

Dedicated the race to Victor. After I got to the finish line and received my gorgeous medallion, I sat on a sidewalk and broke into tears. Thought of Victor. Thought of Luis. Thought of life. 

It was an emotional week. Too Emotional.

Victor's profile picture posted one week before he passed. A lonesome boat, the sunset, the horizon, the Caribbean sea.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Over the Narrows 10-miler

A lot of bananas for me, por favor

A nice reward

A gorgeous medallion

Ocean's Nine. Ocean's Eleven. Ocean's Nine.

Marathon Plan - Regressive Countdown - Week Fifteen
01/18/10 - 01/24/10 - Week Total: 28.3 miles

I have had issues with my long runs pace. I slow down and seems there is no way to speed up. One day in Green Lake I decided to stick behind two ladies that were running at 10:20 min/mile. That was the only way I could keep that pace. Once they finished their run, I slowed down, and went back to a 11:30 min/mile. I have even had some long runs at 12:50 what really concerned me.

Knowing that I perform better when I race, I replaced my 13-miler yesterday for a 10-mile race to determine what pace I was able to keep. The race was part of a four Kilometers/Miles races series: 5k/5M - 10K/10M - 15K/15M and 20K/20M. (I didn't run the 5M and won't be able to run the 20M as I already registered in a Half the day after).

So here I go, running at a good pace with a lot of people for 2.30 miles when we got to the point where the 10K and the 10M races split. And all the people running with me, turned to the right (10K) and I alone turned to the left. I could see in the distance only two people ahead of me. Then a girl passed me and told me "What a gorgeous day!!!", I nodded and told her: "Yes, and I think we are on our own", as I realized that we probably were the last runners. She nodded and took off.

The race was put together by a running club and many of its members are training for spring marathons. Do you know what it means? That most of the runners of the 10M are very fast runners. At mile 3.5 the lead runner was coming back. He was 3 miles ahead of me. And then I saw ALL the runners. I was really happy because at least, I was NOW running with a lot of people. They were running in a different direction though, but it didn't matter to me. I had company!!! I had to be one of the last, but as I never look back, I didn't know how many people were behind me, if any. I would find out at mile 5 when I would have to turn around. Finally mile 5 arrived (or I arrived to it) and in my way back I was able to count how many people were behind me. Nine. Then I passed two ladies, so eleven. Then they passed me, and I went back to nine. Ocean's Nine. Ocean's Eleven. Ocean's Nine.

And that was it. I was going to keep that pace, and not let any of these nine to pass me. That would be the way to push for the pace. I was doing very well, until ... I missed a sign! Fortunately the race director was driving by and stopped me. Also, a volunteer at a stand on the street I had to turn saw me and chased me.... They saved me big time. Who knows where I would've ended.

While I was going back to the race course I saw four of the people that were behind me closer to the curve that I should have taken. I was about to be reduced to Ocean's Five. No!! I sped up, and took the curve first than two of them, and later I could passed the other two. I was running at 10:30 min/mile, but again being alone, when I didn't feel any pressure I slowed down, and found again these two people breathing down my neck. Time to speed up again, left them behind, slowed down, they are again at my side. LIZZIE ! I wanted to scream! We were in that game for about 1.5 miles, but this was going to be an Ocean's Nine. Period. Not less. When we were about 0.5 miles of the finish line I accelerated, and as I know I am a good sprinter, as soon as I entered in the track I pushed the song Gonna Fly Now, and ran the track at 8 min/mile. Ocean's Nine it was!

Official time 1:46:33 for 10:40 pace. I was one of the slowest persons of the race, however I felt great as I ran a 10-miler a hair faster than my marathon goal pace (10:56)!!!

And BTW, I proudly got a ribbon for third place in my division. If I can't be that fast, I can outlast runners my age!!!